Historic Boston

I normally don’t write app reviews, but I loved this one so much I wanted to let others know how valuable this app was to our trip! This was our family’s first trip to Boston, we had one day, and none of us relished the thought of a guided tour. I found Boston Tour in the App Store and decided the $1.99 price was worth it. I loved that the stops were in order, the audio guide was engaging, and we were able to move at our own pace. The GPS map made it easy to see where we were in conjunction to the next stop. Many times, we would listen to the information about the next site while we walked to it, so that by the time we stopped, we could decide how much or little we wanted to explore. We passed a couple of tour groups, and for the most part, it looked like a huge mass of people all jockeying for a good position close to the guide, who was fighting to be heard over the city noises. I was more than happy to pay $1.99 for my own “private tour guide”. We have one Apple ID, so we were able to share the app. Even if each of us had needed to purchase our own, it would have been worth every penny.

The amount of content is just right and the tour is easy to follow. The author provides directions to the next stop but I preferred using my walking GPS. I just toggled between the tour and the GPS when required. I would usually listen to the info about the next stop while walking. Skip the first step - as she said, the tree is long gone. Although by far the longest walk, don’t miss the navy ship yard. Make sure you have your ID in order to get on the ships free of charge. I moved from location to location, not spending much time (other than the ship yard) at any one. Completed it in an afternoon. Enjoy!

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I was under the impression that the audio in this tour would begin when you approached a location on the Freedom Trail. It doesn’t. You have to start it yourself. It requires you to tap the right spot on your screen a few times to load each one. The text is provided along with a few pictures, so the narration really isn’t even necessary. You can read it much more quickly. Also frustrating is you can’t leave the app to snap a picture and have the narration continue. The narration stops. The bottom line: get yourself a pamphlet on the Freedom Trail and do it yourself. Better yet, pay a bit extra and get a professionally led tour. I was watching the tour groups being led by an animated guide and was wishing I had signed up.

The Freedom Trail is well marked and easy to follow on your own. And, this app made it even better! You can listen to the narration at each stop and there are good historical photos. Plus, it’s nice to be able to stop and start when you want. If there are several people in your group, you can use Family Sharing.

If you’re questioning whether to spend the $2 for this walking guide, I highly recommend it! We enjoyed the map and the narration at each stop. Additionally, it allowed us to move along at our own pace and stop for lunch or a coffee when we wanted.